Former Black Panthers react to Beyoncé's Super Bowl performance

Beyoncé slayed at Super Bowl 50. But her Black Panther-themed performance has led to some harsh reactions from many, including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and the unidentified folks who may actually ‘boycott’ Bey’s ‘glorification’ of the Black Panthers next week at NFL headquarters in New York.

The backlash proves how deep the impact of the Black Panther Party cuts 50 years since its founding in Oakland.

But Queen Bey is receiving some important support — from the Black Panthers.

As an original member of the Black Panther Party I thank Beyonce for her courage to make a statement on National TV. I am sure she understood the backlash that would follow her performance @ the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl, so on behalf of The National Alumni Association of the Black Panther Party we thank you & salute you.

Johnson told theGrio.com the singer’s performance provides exposure for generations who may not be aware of the organization’s impact.

“It opens the door for us to tell our true history,” he said. “Because most of the youngsters, even a lot of the young activists, by the time, they were born, the Black Panther Party didn’t even exist but a lot of them had free breakfast in their schools. And a lot of them don’t know why. So it’s a chance for us to give them our true history and our legacy.”

“You see that the Panthers were very, very young and I think that that’s an important point,” he says. “You see that the Panthers were majority women early on. I think that’s really important. You see that J. Edgar Hoover did set out to destroy the Panthers and was instrumental in their destruction and he documented it so it was very clear.”